Biometric sensor and device including the same

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a display panel, a cover glass disposed on the display panel, and a biometric sensor device disposed below the display panel. The biometric sensor device includes a printed circuit board, a biometric sensor disposed on the printed circuit board, and a housing disposed on the printed circuit board and in which an opening is formed. The biometric sensor is disposed in the opening of the housing and is attached to a surface of the display panel through the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/808,474, filed Mar. 4, 2020, which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/949,253, filed Apr. 10, 2018 (abandoned), whichclaims priority to KR 10-2017-0046972, filed Apr. 11, 2017, the entirecontents of which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a biometric sensor fordetecting user's biometric information and a device including the same.

BACKGROUND

Recently, technologies for authenticating a user by using the user'sbiometric information (e.g., a fingerprint, an iris, or the like)obtained by a biometric sensor have been developed. Biometric sensorsfor fingerprint recognition may be classified into an optical type, anultrasonic type, and a capacitive type, based on a method of obtainingfingerprint information.

In the case of an optical sensor, it is necessary to maintain a constantdistance between the sensor and a display and to prevent and/or reduceinfiltration of foreign matter (e.g., dust) between the sensor and thedisplay. However, due to external shocks or aging in the process ofusing an electronic device, the distance between the display and thesensor may vary, or foreign matter may infiltrate between the displayand the sensor, and therefore the performance of the sensor may bedegraded.

SUMMARY

Example aspects of the present disclosure address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and provide at least theadvantages described below. Accordingly, an example aspect of thepresent disclosure is to provide a biometric sensor and a deviceincluding the same, in which the biometric sensor has a structure forstably maintaining the distance between a display and a sensor andpreventing and/or reducing infiltration of foreign matter between thedisplay and the sensor.

In accordance with an example aspect of the present disclosure, a sensordevice includes a printed circuit board, a biometric sensor disposed onthe printed circuit board, and a housing disposed on the printed circuitboard and including an opening in which the biometric sensor isaccommodated.

In accordance with another example aspect of the present disclosure, adisplay device includes a display panel, a cover glass disposed on thedisplay panel, and a biometric sensor device disposed below the displaypanel. The biometric sensor device includes a printed circuit board, abiometric sensor disposed on the printed circuit board, and a housing inwhich an opening is formed. The biometric sensor is accommodated in theopening of the housing and is attached to a surface of the display panelthrough the housing.

In accordance with another example aspect of the present disclosure, anelectronic device includes a display panel, a cover glass disposed onthe display panel, a biometric sensor device disposed below the displaypanel, and a processor electrically connected with the display panel andthe biometric sensor device. The processor configured to obtainfingerprint information using the biometric sensor device. The biometricsensor device includes a printed circuit board, a biometric sensordisposed on the printed circuit board, and a housing in which an openingis formed. The biometric sensor is accommodated in the opening of thehousing and is attached to a surface of the display panel through thehousing.

According to various example embodiments of the present disclosure, bystably maintaining the distance between a display and a sensor andpreventing and/or reducing infiltration of foreign matter between thedisplay and the sensor, it is possible to prevent and/or reduceperformance degradation of the sensor.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses various embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and attendant advantages of thepresent disclosure will be more apparent and readily appreciated fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic device in anetwork environment according to various example embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example external appearance of anelectronic device according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exampleelectronic device according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example coupling structureof an electronic device according to an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating an example electronic deviceaccording to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example package structure of abiometric sensor module according to an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a sectional view illustrating an example biometric sensormodule according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B is a sectional view illustrating an example biometric sensormodule according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a portion of an example packagestructure of a biometric sensor module according to an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating an example electronic deviceaccording to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example process ofmanufacturing a biometric sensor, according to an example embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbersare used to depict the same or similar elements, features, andstructures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various example embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, thoseof ordinary skill in the art will recognize that modifications,equivalents, and/or alternatives on the various embodiments describedherein can be variously made without departing from the scope and spiritof the present disclosure. With regard to description of drawings,similar elements may be marked by similar reference numbers.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic device in anetwork environment according to various example embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a network environment 100, an electronic device101 may communicate with an electronic device 102 through a short-rangewireless communication 198, or may communicate with an electronic device104 or a server 108 through a network 199. According to an embodiment,the electronic device 101 may communicate with the electronic device 104through the server 108. According to an embodiment, the electronicdevice 101 may include a processor (e.g., including processingcircuitry) 120, a memory 130, an input device 150 (e.g., including inputcircuitry, such as, for example, and without limitation, a microphone ora mouse), a display device 160, an audio module (e.g., including audiocircuitry) 170, a sensor module (e.g., including sensing circuitryand/or a sensor) 176, an interface (e.g., including interface circuitry)177, a haptic module (e.g., including haptic circuitry) 179, a cameramodule (e.g., including image capturing circuitry) 180, a powermanagement module 188, a battery 189, a communication module (e.g.,including communication circuitry) 190, and a subscriber identificationmodule 196. In some embodiments, the electronic device 101 may notinclude at least one (e.g., the display device 160 or the camera module180) of the aforementioned elements, or may further include otherelements. In some embodiments, some of the elements may be integrated,as in the case of the sensor module 176 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, aniris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) embedded in the display device160 (e.g., a display).

The processor 120 may include various processing circuitry and drive,for example, an operating system or an application program to control atleast one other element (e.g., a hardware or software element) of theelectronic device 101 that is connected to the processor 120, and mayprocess and compute a variety of data. The processor 120 may loadinstructions or data received from other elements (e.g., the sensormodule 176 or the communication module 190) into a volatile memory 132,may process the loaded instructions or data, and may store result datain a non-volatile memory 134. The processor 120 may include variousprocessing circuitry, such as, for example, and without limitation, oneor more of a dedicated processor, a central processing unit, anapplication processor, a graphic processing unit, an image signalprocessor, a sensor hub processor, and a communication processor, or thelike. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may include, forexample, and without limitation, a main processor 121 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit or an application processor, or the like) and acoprocessor 123 (e.g., a graphic processing unit, an image signalprocessor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor, or thelike) that operates independently of the main processor 121 andadditionally or alternatively, uses less power than the main processor121 or specializes in a specified function. In this case, thecoprocessor 123 may control at least a part of functions or statesrelating to at least one (e.g., the display device 160, the sensormodule 176, or the communication module 190) of the elements 130 to 196of the electronic device 101, for example, instead of the main processor121 while the main processor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) stateor along with the main processor 121 while the main processor 121 is inan active (e.g., application execution) state. According to anembodiment, the coprocessor 123 (e.g., an image signal processor or acommunication processor) may be implemented as a part of otherfunctionally related elements (e.g., the camera module 180 or thecommunication module 190). According to an embodiment, the processor 120may be implemented with a system on chip (SoC) or a system in package(SiP).

The memory 130 may store a variety of data (e.g., a software element(e.g., a program 140) and input or output data for instructions relatingto the software element) used by at least one element (e.g., theprocessor 120 or the sensor module 176) of the electronic device 101.The memory 130 may include the volatile memory 132 and/or thenon-volatile memory 134. The volatile memory 132 may be configured with,for example, a random access memory (RAM) (e.g., a DRAM, an SRAM, or anSDRAM). The non-volatile memory 134 may be configured with, for example,a one-time programmable read-only memory (OTPROM), a programmableread-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory(EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM), a mask ROM, a flash ROM, a flash memory, a hard disk drive, ora solid state drive (SSD). Furthermore, depending on the type ofconnection to the electronic device 101, the non-volatile memory 134 maybe configured with an internal memory 136 disposed in the electronicdevice 101 and/or an external memory 138 of a stand-alone type that isintended to be connected to the electronic device 101 only whennecessary. The external memory 138 may include, for example, a harddisk, a floppy disk, a magnetic medium (e.g., a magnetic tape), anoptical recording medium (e.g., a compact disc read only memory(CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a magneto-optical medium(e.g., a floptical disk)), a flash drive (e.g., compact flash (CF),secure digital (SD), micro secure digital (Micro-SD), mini securedigital (Mini-SD), extreme digital (xD), a multimedia card (MMC), or amemory stick). The external memory 138 may be operatively or physicallyconnected with the electronic device 101 through wired connection (e.g.,a universal serial bus (USB)) or wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth).

The program 140, which is a software element stored in the memory 130,may include, for example, a kernel 141, a library 143, an applicationframework 145, or an application program (interchangeably referred to as“an application”) 147.

The input device 150 may include various input circuitry and receiveinstructions or data to be used for an element (e.g., the processor 120)of the electronic device 101 from outside (e.g., a user) of theelectronic device 101 and may include various input circuitry, such as,for example, and without limitation, one or more of a microphone, amouse, or a keyboard, or the like. According to an embodiment, thekeyboard may include a physical keyboard or a virtual keyboard displayedthrough the display device 160.

The display device 160 may visually provide information to a user of theelectronic device 101 and may include, for example, a display, ahologram device, or a projector and a control circuit for controllingthe corresponding device. The display may include, for example, a liquidcrystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) display, a microelectromechanical systems(MEMS) display, or an electronic paper display, or the like, but is notlimited thereto. The display, according to an embodiment, may beimplemented to be flexible, transparent, or wearable on a part of ahuman body. According to an embodiment, the display may include touchcircuitry for detecting a user's touch, gesture, proximity, or hoveringinput or a pressure sensor (interchangeably referred to as a forcesensor) for measuring the strength of touch pressure. The touchcircuitry or the pressure sensor may be implemented integrally with thedisplay or may be implemented with one or more sensors separate from thedisplay. The hologram device may show a three-dimensional image in theair by using a light interference phenomenon. The projector may projectlight onto a screen located inside or outside the electronic device 101to display an image.

The audio module 170 may include various audio circuitry and bilaterallyconvert between a sound and an electric signal. According to anembodiment, the audio module 170 may obtain a sound through an inputdevice 150 (e.g., a microphone) or may output a sound through a soundoutput device (not illustrated) (e.g., a speaker or a receiver) includedin the electronic device 101 or an external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 102 (e.g., a speaker or headphones)) connected withthe electronic device 101 in a wired or wireless manner.

The sensor module 176 may include various sensing circuitry/sensors thatmeasure or detect an operating status (e.g., power or temperature)inside the electronic device 101 or an environmental status (e.g.,altitude, humidity, or brightness) outside the electronic device 101 togenerate an electrical signal or a data value that corresponds to themeasured or detected status information. The sensor module 176 mayinclude, for example, and without limitation, a gesture sensor, a gyrosensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an accelerationsensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor (e.g., a red,green, blue (RGB) sensor), an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor(e.g., an iris sensor, a fingerprint sensor, heartbeat rate monitoring(HRM), an e-nose sensor, an electromyography (EMG) sensor, anelectroencephalogram (EEG) sensor, or an electrocardiogram (ECG)sensor), a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an illuminance sensor,or a ultra violet (UV) sensor, or the like. The sensor module 176 mayfurther include a control circuit for controlling one or more sensorsincluded therein. In some embodiments, the sensor module 176 may becontrolled by the main processor 121 (e.g., an application processor) orthe coprocessor 123 (e.g., a sensor hub processor) that operatesindependently of the main processor 121. In this case, for example,while the main processor 121 (e.g., an application processor) is in asleep state, at least a part of operations or states of the sensormodule 176 may be controlled by operating a separate low-power processorwithout waking up the main processor 121 (e.g., an applicationprocessor).

The interface 177 may include various interface circuitry and provide ameans for connecting with an external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 102) based on a specified standard. According to anembodiment, the interface 177 may include various interface circuitry,such as, for example, and without limitation, a high definitionmulti-media interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, anoptical interface, a recommended standard232 (RS-232) interface, aD-subminiature (D-sub) interface, a mobile high-definition link (MHL)interface, an SD card interface, a multi-media card (MMC) interface, oran audio interface, or the like.

A connecting terminal 178 may physically connect the electronic device101 and an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102).According to an embodiment, the connecting terminal 178 may include, forexample, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card, an MMCconnector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector), or thelike, but is not limited thereto.

The haptic module 179 may include various haptic circuitry and convertan electrical signal into mechanical stimulation (e.g., vibration ormotion) or electrical stimulation that a user is able to recognizethrough a tactile sensation or a kinesthetic sensation. The hapticmodule 179 may include, for example, and without limitation, a motor, apiezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device, or the like.

The camera module 180 may include various image capturing circuitry andtake a still image and a video. According to an embodiment, the cameramodule 180 may include, for example, and without limitation, one or morelenses (e.g., a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens, or a front lensand a rear lens), an image sensor, an image signal processor, or a flash(e.g., a light-emitting diode, a xenon lamp, or the like), or the like.

The power management module 188 may manage power supplied to theelectronic device 101 and may be configured as, for example, at least apart of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery 189 may supply power to at least one element of theelectronic device 101 and may include, for example, a non-rechargeableprimary cell, or a rechargeable secondary cell or a fuel cell.

The communication module 190 may include various communication circuitryand establish a wired or wireless communication channel between theelectronic device 101 and an external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 102, the electronic device 104, or the server 108) andmay perform communication through the established communication channel.According to an embodiment, the communication module 190 may include,for example, and without limitation, a wireless communication module 192and a wired communication module 194, or the like, and may communicatewith an external electronic device (e.g., the first external electronicdevice 102, the second external electronic device 104, or the server108) through the first network 198 (e.g., a short-range communicationnetwork, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct, or infrared data association(IrDA)) or the second network 199 (e.g., a long-range communicationnetwork, such as a cellular network, Internet, or a computer network(e.g., LAN or WAN)) by using the corresponding communication module.

The wireless communication module 192 may support, for example, cellularcommunication, short-range wireless communication, or global navigationsatellite system (GNSS) communication. The cellular communication mayinclude, for example, long-term evolution (LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A),code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), universalmobile telecommunications system (UMTS), wireless broadband (WiBro), orglobal system for mobile communications (GSM). The short-range wirelesscommunication may include, for example, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fidirect, light fidelity (LiFi), Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy (BLE),Zigbee, near field communication (NFC), magnetic secure transmission(MST), radio frequency (RF), or a body area network (BAN). The GNSS mayinclude, for example, a global positioning system (GPS), a globalnavigation satellite system (Glonass), a Beidou navigation satellitesystem (hereinafter referred to as “Beidou”), or the European globalsatellite-based navigation system (hereinafter referred to as“Galileo”). Hereinafter, in this disclosure, “GPS” may be usedinterchangeably with “GNSS”.

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 192 mayidentify and authenticate the electronic device 101 in a communicationnetwork using, for example, the subscriber identification module (e.g.,a SIM card) 196 in the case where the wireless communication module 192supports cellular communication. According to an embodiment, thewireless communication module 192 may include, for example, and withoutlimitation, a communication processor (CP) that operates independentlyof the processor 120 (e.g., an application processor (AP)), or the like.In this case, the communication processor may perform at least a part offunctions relating to at least one of the elements 130 to 196 of theelectronic device 101, for example, instead of the processor 120 whilethe processor 120 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state or along withthe processor 120 while the processor 120 is in an active state.According to an embodiment, the wireless communication module 192 may beconfigured with a plurality of communication modules supporting only thecorresponding communication method, among a cellular communicationmodule, a short-range wireless communication module, and a GNSScommunication module.

The wired communication module 194 may include, for example, acommunication processor supporting a wired communication method, such asa local area network (LAN), power line communication, or a plain oldtelephone service (POTS).

Some of the elements 120 to 196 may be connected together through aninter-peripheral communication method (e.g., a bus, a general purposeinput/output (GPIO), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or a mobileindustry processor interface (MIPI)) to exchange signals (e.g.,instructions or data) with one another.

According to an embodiment, the instructions or data may be transmittedor received between the electronic device 101 and the second externalelectronic device 104 through the server 108 connected to the secondnetwork 199. The first and second external electronic devices 102 and104 may each be of a type that is the same as or different from that ofthe electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, all or a part ofoperations that the electronic device 101 will perform may be executedby another external electronic device or a plurality of externalelectronic devices (e.g., the electronic device 102 or 104 or the server108). According to an embodiment, in the case where the electronicdevice 101 has to perform any function or service automatically or inresponse to a request, the electronic device 101 may request at leastsome functions associated with the function or service from anotherdevice (e.g., the electronic device 102 or 104 or the server 108),instead of or in addition to executing the function or service byitself. The other electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102 or104 or the server 108), which has received the request, may execute therequested functions or additional functions and may transmit theexecution result to the electronic device 101. The electronic device 101may provide the requested function or service using the received resultor may additionally process the received result to provide the requestedfunction or service. To this end, for example, cloud computing,distributed computing, or client-server computing may be used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example external appearance of anelectronic device according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, according to an embodiment, a display (or a displaypanel) 210 and a housing 220 may be exposed on a front surface of anelectronic device 201. According to an embodiment, the electronic device201 may include a variety of non-illustrated hardware modules. Forexample, the display 210 may have, on a rear surface thereof, a pressuresensor for sensing the strength (or pressure) of a user's touch inputand/or a biometric sensor for detecting the user's fingerprint.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device 201 may detect theuser's fingerprint through a second area 212 of the display 210. To thisend, a biometric sensor for detecting the fingerprint may be disposed ona rear surface of the second area 212 of the display 210.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, thebiometric sensor may provide a sensor package structure that is capableof maintaining an appropriate distance from the display 210 toaccurately obtain the user's fingerprint information and preventingand/or reducing performance degradation caused by infiltration offoreign matter outside the biometric sensor even though disposed on therear surface of the display 210.

The electronic device 201 in FIG. 2 is merely illustrative, and thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a receiver, acamera module, an iris sensor, or other biometric sensors may bedisposed on the rear surface of the display 210.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exampleelectronic device according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, an electronic device 301 (e.g., the electronicdevice 201) according to an embodiment may include a cover glass 310, adisplay (or a display panel) 320 (e.g., the display 210), a pressuresensor 330, a biometric sensor module 340 (e.g., a biometric sensorcircuit, a biometric sensor device, or a biometric sensor means, forexample, and without limitation, a fingerprint sensor), a housing 350(e.g., the housing 220), a printed circuit board 360, a battery 370, anda back cover 380. According to various embodiments, the electronicdevice 301 may not include some of the elements illustrated in FIG. 3and may further include elements not being illustrated in FIG. 3.

The cover glass 310 may pass light generated by the display 320.Furthermore, a user may perform a touch (including contact using anelectronic pen) by touching the cover glass 310 with a part (e.g., afinger) of his/her body. The cover glass 310 may comprise, for example,reinforced glass, reinforced plastic, a flexible polymer material, orthe like, but is not limited thereto, to protect the display 320 andelements included in the electronic device 301 from, for example,external shocks. According to various embodiments, the cover glass 310may also be referred to as a glass window.

The display 320 may be disposed and/or coupled below the cover glass 310and may be exposed through at least a portion of the cover glass 310.The display 320 may output contents (e.g., text, an image, a video, anicon, a widget, a symbol, or the like) or may receive a touch input oran electronic pen input from the user.

According to an embodiment, the display 320 may include a display panel,a touch sensor, and/or an electronic pen sensor. The display panel mayinclude, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, alight-emitting diode (LED) display panel, an organic light-emittingdiode (OLED) display panel, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)display panel, or an electronic paper display panel, or the like, but isnot limited thereto. The touch sensor may, for example, include acapacitive touch panel, a pressure-sensitive touch panel, a resistivetouch panel, an infrared touch panel, or an ultrasonic touch panel, orthe like, but is not limited thereto. The touch sensor may be insertedinto the display panel (an add-on touch panel), may be directly formedon the display panel (an on-cell touch panel), or may be included in thedisplay panel (an in-cell touch panel). The electronic pen sensor (e.g.,a digitizer) may detect a touch input, a gesture input, a hoveringinput, or the like from an electronic pen.

According to an embodiment, the display 320 may include a planar area321 and a bending area 322 extending from one side (e.g., an upper side,a lower side, a left side, or a right side) of the planar area 321.Pixels (e.g., OLEDs) of the display panel, a conductive pattern of thetouch sensor, and/or a conductive pattern of the electronic pen sensormay be disposed in the planar area 321. The bending area 322 may beelectrically connected with an FPCB 323 on a rear surface of the display320 through various conductive patterns (interconnection wires).

According to an embodiment, a portion of the bending area 322 may befolded toward a rear surface of the planar area 321. According tovarious embodiments, interconnection wiring of the FPCB 323 may beelectrically connected with the printed circuit board 360 through aspecified connector. According to various embodiments, the bending area322 may have pixels disposed therein for displaying various pieces ofinformation, similarly to the planar area 321, depending on the designof the electronic device 301.

The pressure sensor 330 may be disposed and/or coupled below the display320. For example, the pressure sensor 330 may be disposed between theplanar area 321 of the display 320 and the FPCB 323. The pressure sensor330 may detect or sense external pressure (or force) exerted on thecover glass 310 by, for example, the user's finger. According to anembodiment, the pressure sensor 330 may include a plurality ofelectrodes and dielectric layers. For example, the pressure sensor 330may detect touch pressure on the basis of a variation in electrostaticcapacitance between a first electrode and a second electrode, which iscaused by the user's touch.

The biometric sensor module 340 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, or thelike) may be disposed and/or coupled below the display 320. For example,the biometric sensor module 340 may be attached to the planar area 321of the display 320. According to an embodiment, the pressure sensor 330may include a sensor mounting area (or hole or opening) formed through afront surface and a rear surface thereof for placement of the biometricsensor module 340. The biometric sensor module 340 may be inserted intothe sensor mounting area of the pressure sensor 330 and may be arrangedside by side with the pressure sensor 330.

The biometric sensor module 340 may sense the user's biometricinformation (e.g., fingerprint information, or the like). The biometricsensor module 340 may include, for example, an optical biometric sensor.For example, the biometric sensor module 340 may capture the user'sfingerprint image using an embedded image sensor (e.g., a complementarymetal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge coupled device(CCD) image sensor). Unique fingerprint minutiae may be extracted fromthe fingerprint image and may be compared with fingerprint minutiaeregistered in advance to authenticate the user.

The biometric sensor module 340 may obtain fingerprint information byreceiving at least a portion of light output from at least onelight-emitting element included in the display 320, for example, byreceiving light reflected by the user's finger. According to variousembodiments, the biometric sensor module 340 may include alight-emitting part and a light-receiving part and may obtain thefingerprint information by outputting light using the light-emittingpart and receiving the light reflected by an external object (e.g., afinger) through the light-receiving part.

The housing 350 may form at least a portion of the external appearanceof the electronic device 301 and may accommodate elements included inthe electronic device 301. For example, the housing 350 may form alateral side (e.g., an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and/or aright side) of the electronic device 301. According to variousembodiments, the housing 350 may include a plurality of housings. Thehousing 350 may also be referred to as a rear case or a rear plate.According to an embodiment, at least a part of sides of the housing 350may include metal to function as an antenna structure.

According to an embodiment, the housing 350 may include a bracket. Thebracket may be include, for example, a magnesium alloy and may bedisposed below the display 320 and above the printed circuit board 360.The bracket may be coupled with the display 320 and the printed circuitboard 360 to physically support the display 320 and the printed circuitboard 360.

According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board 360 may bedisposed below (or above) the housing 350. Various types of electroniccomponents, elements, and printed circuits (e.g., a processor, a memory,a communication circuit, and the like) of the electronic device 301 maybe mounted or arranged on the printed circuit board 360. According tovarious embodiments, the printed circuit board 360 may be referred to asa main board or a printed board assembly (PBA), or may be simplyreferred to as a PCB. The printed circuit board 360 may include, forexample, a main printed circuit board and a sub-printed circuit board.According to an embodiment, the main printed circuit board and thesub-printed circuit board may be electrically connected together througha specified connector or specified interconnection wiring. The printedcircuit board 360 may be implemented with, for example, a rigid printedcircuit board (rigid PCB) and/or a flexible printed circuit board(FPCB).

The battery 370 may bilaterally convert between chemical energy andelectrical energy. For example, the battery 370 may convert chemicalenergy into electrical energy and may supply the electrical energy tothe display 320, the pressure sensor 330, the biometric sensor module340, and various elements or modules connected to the printed circuitboard 360. According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board 360 mayinclude a power management module (e.g., a power management integratedcircuit (PMIC)) for managing charge/discharge of the battery 370.

The back cover 380 may be coupled to a rear surface of the electronicdevice 301. The back cover 380 may include reinforced glass, a plasticinjection-molded material, and/or metal, or the like. According tovarious embodiments, the back cover 380 may be implemented integrallywith the housing 350 or may be implemented to be detachable by the user.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating example coupling structures ofan electronic device according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are rear perspective views of an electronic device 401.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the electronic device 401 (e.g., the electronicdevice 301 of FIG. 3) according to an embodiment may include a display(or a display panel) 420 (e.g., the display 320 of FIG. 3) and apressure sensor 430 (e.g., the pressure sensor 330 of FIG. 3). Referringto FIG. 4B, the electronic device 401 (e.g., the electronic device 301of FIG. 3) according to an embodiment may further include a biometricsensor module 440 (e.g., the biometric sensor module 340 of FIG. 3).

According to an embodiment, the display 420 may include a panel layer421 and a layer 425. According to an embodiment, the panel layer 421 mayinclude at least one light-emitting element. According to an embodiment,the panel layer 421 may include at least one hole or gap through whichlight in a specific wavelength range passes. For example, the panellayer 421 may include at least one gap between a plurality of pixels andinterconnection wires. Reflective light reflected by a user's fingerafter output from the panel layer 421 may reach the biometric sensormodule 440 through the at least one gap included in the panel layer 421.According to an embodiment, the layer 425 may be disposed to face a rearsurface of the panel layer 421. According to an embodiment, the layer425 may include a sensor mounting area 427 for accommodating thebiometric sensor module 440 (e.g., the biometric sensor module 340 ofFIG. 3). The sensor mounting area 427 may be formed through a frontsurface and a rear surface of the layer 425 such that the biometricsensor module 440 inserted into the sensor mounting area 427 faces anarea of the panel layer 421.

Referring to an image 5 obtained by magnifying an area 3 of the layer425, the layer 425 may include a first layer 425-1 and a second layer425-2. According to an embodiment, through-holes (or openings) formedthrough the first and second layers 425-1 and 425-2 may have differentsizes, respectively. For example, the through-hole of the second layer425-2 may have a larger area than the through-hole of the first layer425-1.

According to an embodiment, the display 420 may include a printedcircuit board 423 (e.g., the FPCB 323 of FIG. 3) on which a display ICand/or a touch sensor IC is disposed. According to an embodiment, theprinted circuit board 423 may extend from one side (e.g., a lower side)of the panel layer 421 and may be electrically connected with the panellayer 421.

According to an embodiment, the pressure sensor 430 may include a sensormounting area 431 for accommodating the biometric sensor module 440. Thesensor mounting area 431 of the pressure sensor 430 may have the shapeof an opening formed through a front surface and a rear surface of thepressure sensor 430. Accordingly, the biometric sensor module 440 may bedisposed to face an area of the panel layer 421 through the sensormounting area 431 of the pressure sensor 430. According to anembodiment, the sensor mounting area 431 of the pressure sensor 430 mayhave an area larger than or equal to that of the sensor mounting area427 of the layer 425.

According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board 423 may be foldedtoward the rear surface of the layer 425 and attached to the layer 425and the pressure sensor 430 to overlap at least a portion of the layer425 and the pressure sensor 430.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the biometric sensor module 440 (e.g., thebiometric sensor module 340 of FIG. 3) may be attached to a rear surfaceof the display 420. For example, one surface of the biometric sensormodule 440 may be attached to the first layer 425-1 of the layer 425after passing through the pressure sensor 430 and the second layer 425-2of the layer 425.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating an example electronic deviceaccording to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The sectional view illustrated in FIG. 5 corresponds to a sectional viewin the state in which a biometric sensor module (e.g., the biometricsensor module 340 of FIG. 3) is not attached to a display 520. Referringto FIG. 5, an electronic device 501 (e.g., the electronic device 301 ofFIG. 3) may include a cover glass 510 (e.g., the cover glass 310 of FIG.3), the display (or a display panel) 520 (e.g., the display 320 of FIG.3), and a pressure sensor 530 (e.g., the pressure sensor 330 of FIG. 3).

The cover glass 510 may be located in the top layer of the electronicdevice 501. The display 520 may be disposed below the cover glass 510.The display 520 may include a panel layer (or a front panel) 521 (e.g.,the panel layer 421) and a layer 525 (e.g., the layer 425). According toan embodiment, the panel layer 521 may include at least onelight-emitting element and may be disposed below the cover glass 510.According to an embodiment, the layer 525 may be disposed below thepanel layer 521. According to an embodiment, the layer 525 may include afirst layer 525-1 (e.g., the first layer 425-1) and a second layer 525-2(e.g., the second layer 425-2). The first layer 525-1 may include, forexample, a support member (e.g., EMBO) 51 having a pattern formedthereon, a digitizer (or an electronic pen sensor) 53 for receiving aninput from an electronic pen, and a metal layer 55 (e.g., a copperlayer). The support member 51 may absorb external shocks to the panellayer 521, may enhance an optical characteristic of the panel layer 521,and may visually hide a pattern included in the digitizer 53. The secondlayer 525-2 may include, for example, a heat dissipation sheet 57 forperforming a heat dissipation function and a cushion layer 59 forabsorbing external shocks. The stack structure of the first layer 525-1and the second layer 525-2, which is illustrated in FIG. 5, is merelyillustrative, and the layer 525 may not include some of the plurality oflayers illustrated in FIG. 5, or may further include at least one otherlayer. Alternatively, the positions of at least some of the plurality oflayers may be changed. For example, the layer 525 may not include thedigitizer 53 and the metal layer 55 illustrated in FIG. 5. In anotherexample, the layer 525 may not include the support member 51 and theheat dissipation sheet 57.

According to an embodiment, through-holes (or openings) formed throughthe first and second layers 525-1 and 525-2 may have different sizes,respectively. For example, the through-hole of the second layer 525-2may have a width w2 larger than the width w1 of the through-hole of thefirst layer 525-1. Accordingly, the layer 525 may have a steppedstructure formed by the first layer 525-1 and the second layer 525-2.

According to an embodiment, the pressure sensor 530 may be disposedbelow the layer 525. According to an embodiment, a printed circuit board523 may be disposed below the pressure sensor 530. For example, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 4A, the printed circuit board 523 mayextend from one side of the display 520 (e.g., the panel layer 521) andmay be folded toward a rear surface of the layer 525 and attached to thepressure sensor 530. According to an embodiment, the electronic device501 may include the pressure sensor 530.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example package structure of abiometric sensor module according to an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

In FIG. 6, diagram <61> illustrates a perspective view of a biometricsensor module (or a biometric sensor device or a biometric sensorcircuit) (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) 640 (e.g., the biometric sensormodule 340 of FIG. 3), diagram <62> illustrates a front view of thebiometric sensor module 640, and diagram <63> illustrates a rear view ofthe biometric sensor module 640.

Referring to FIG. 6, the biometric sensor module 640 may include aprinted circuit board 641, a housing 642, an image sensor (or an imagesensor array) 643, an optical layer 644, an optical filter layer 645, anadhesive member 646, a conductive wire 647, and a magnetic screen layer648 (e.g., a magnetic metal powder sheet). The image sensor 643, theoptical layer 644, and the optical filter layer 645 may be combined toform one package structure and may be referred to as, for example, abiometric sensor. According to various embodiments, the biometric sensormodule 640 may not include some of the elements illustrated in FIG. 6and may further include elements not being illustrated in FIG. 6.

According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board 641 may include arigid printed circuit board (RPCB) 641-1 and a flexible printed circuitboard (FPCB) 641-2. The rigid printed circuit board 641-1 may include apassive element, a printed circuit, and a sensor IC for controlling thebiometric sensor. The passive element, the printed circuit, and thesensor IC may be disposed on, for example, a rear surface of the rigidprinted circuit board 641-1. The flexible printed circuit board 641-2may extend from one side of the rigid printed circuit board 641-1. Theflexible printed circuit board 641-2 (or a connecting part) may beelectrically connected with another printed circuit board (e.g., theprinted circuit board 423 of FIG. 4A) in the state of being attached toa display (e.g., the display 420 of FIG. 4A).

According to an embodiment, the housing 642 may be disposed on a surface(e.g., an upper surface) of the printed circuit board 641. According toan embodiment, the housing 642 may include an opening. At least an area(e.g., the entirety) of an upper surface of the housing 642 may be opensuch that the housing 642 has sidewalls surrounding the biometricsensor. For example, when viewed from above the biometric sensor module640, the housing 642 may have the shape of “□” that surrounds thebiometric sensor. In another example, when viewed from above thebiometric sensor module 640, the housing 642 may have the shape of “⊂”or “11” by which a portion of the periphery of the biometric sensor isopen. In the state in which the biometric sensor module 640 is attachedto the display (e.g., the display 420 of FIG. 4A), the biometric sensormay face one surface of the display through the opening. The housing 642may include, for example, a polymer, such as epoxy, and/or metal, suchas stainless steel or aluminum.

According to an embodiment, the biometric sensor (e.g., the image sensor643, the optical layer 644, and the optical filter layer 645) may bedisposed on a surface (e.g., the upper surface) of the printed circuitboard 641. The biometric sensor may be disposed inside the housing 642.For example, the biometric sensor may be disposed inside the housing 642through the opening of the housing 642.

According to an embodiment, the image sensor (e.g., a CMOS or a CCD) 643may be disposed on a surface (e.g., the upper surface) of the printedcircuit board 641. The image sensor 643 may be, for example, an arraytype image sensor having a plurality of image sensors arranged at aspecified interval. The image sensor 643 may obtain fingerprintinformation (or a fingerprint image) by using reflective light reflectedby a user's finger.

According to an embodiment, the optical layer 644 may be disposed on theimage sensor 643. For example, the optical layer 644 may improve anoptical characteristic of reflective light reflected by an externalobject (e.g., a finger) and may enhance light receiving efficiency ofthe image sensor 643 by refracting the reflective light.

According to an embodiment, the optical filter layer 645 may be disposedon the optical layer 644. According to an embodiment, the optical filterlayer 645 may be disposed on at least an area of the optical layer 644.The optical filter layer 645 may pass, for example, only light (e.g.,visible light) in a specific wavelength range, which is reflected by anexternal object (e.g., a finger). For example, to obtain fingerprintinformation, the optical filter layer 645 may pass only light in awavelength range required by the image sensor 643 or light (e.g., greenlight) in a wavelength range that easily passes through a hole formed ina panel layer (e.g., the panel layer 421 of FIG. 4) of the display.According to an embodiment, the optical filter layer 645 may include apoly ethylene terephthalate (PET) film.

According to an embodiment, the adhesive member 646 may be disposed on asurface (e.g., the upper surface) of the housing 642. The adhesivemember 646 may be attached to a surface (e.g., a rear surface) of thedisplay to attach the biometric sensor module 640 to the display.

According to an embodiment, the conductive wire 647 may electricallyconnect the printed circuit board 641 and the biometric sensor (e.g.,the image sensor 643). The conductive wire 647 may include, for example,a plurality of wires connecting the printed circuit board 641 and theimage sensor 643. Fingerprint information obtained by the image sensor643 may be transmitted to the sensor IC, which is disposed on theprinted circuit board 641, through the conductive wire 647.

According to an embodiment, the magnetic screen layer 648 may beattached to a surface (e.g., a rear surface) of the printed circuitboard 641. The magnetic screen layer 648 may include, for example,magnetic powder and/or metal powder. A sensor mounting area may beformed in a layer (e.g., the layer 425 of FIG. 4A) of the display.Accordingly, a hole may be formed in an area of a digitizer included inthe layer. The magnetic screen layer 648 may compensate for amagnetic-field change caused by the hole formed in the layer to preventperformance degradation of the digitizer. The magnetic screen layer 648may be omitted in the case where the layer does not include thedigitizer.

FIG. 7A is a sectional view illustrating an example biometric sensormodule according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a biometric sensor module 701 (e.g., the biometricsensor module 640 of FIG. 6) may include a printed circuit board 741(e.g., the printed circuit board 641), a housing 742 (e.g., the housing642), an image sensor (or an image sensor array) 743 (e.g., the imagesensor 643), an optical layer 744 (e.g., the optical layer 644), anoptical filter layer 745 (e.g., the optical filter layer 645), anadhesive member 746 (e.g., the adhesive member 646), a conductive wire747 (e.g., the conductive wire 647), a magnetic screen layer 748 (e.g.,the magnetic screen layer 648), and a protective member 749.

According to an embodiment, the housing 742 and the image sensor 743 maybe disposed on the printed circuit board 741. For example, the housing742 and the image sensor 743 may be attached to the printed circuitboard 741 by a first adhesive film (e.g., a die attach film (DAF)) 71.

According to an embodiment, the optical filter layer 745 may be disposedon at least an area of the optical layer 744. For example, the opticalfilter layer 745 may be attached to the optical layer 744 by a secondadhesive film 73 (e.g., an optically clear adhesive (OCA) film, anoptically clear resin (OCR) film, or a die attach film (DAF)). Thesecond adhesive film 73 may be transparent to ensure an opticalcharacteristic.

According to an embodiment, the protective member 749 may be disposed ina space formed by the housing 742, a biometric sensor (e.g., the imagesensor 743, the optical layer 744, and the optical filter layer 745),and the printed circuit board 741 to secure the housing 742 and thebiometric sensor. According to an embodiment, the protective member 749may surround the conductive wire 747 to secure and protect theconductive wire 747 from the outside. The conductive wire 747 may becompletely separated from the outside by the protective member 749. Theprotective member 749 may include, for example, an epoxy resin orsilicone.

According to an embodiment, the height h1 from the printed circuit board741 to the adhesive member 746 may be greater than or equal to theheight h2 from the printed circuit board 741 to the optical layer 744.Accordingly, the biometric sensor may be separated from the outside inthe state in which the biometric sensor module 701 is attached to adisplay (e.g., the display 320 of FIG. 3).

FIG. 7B is a sectional view illustrating an example biometric sensormodule according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7B, a biometric sensor module 703 (e.g., the biometricsensor module 640 of FIG. 6) may include the main printed circuit board741, a sub-printed circuit board 79, the housing 742, the image sensor(or the image sensor array) 743, the optical layer 744, the opticalfilter layer 745, the adhesive member 746, the conductive wire 747, themagnetic screen layer 748, and the protective member 749.

According to an embodiment, the sub-printed circuit board 79 may bedisposed on the main printed circuit board 741. For example, thesub-printed circuit board 79 may be attached to the main printed circuitboard 741 through at least one third adhesive member 75. According to anembodiment, the third adhesive member 75 may include, for example, aconductive material and may electrically connect the main printedcircuit board 741 and the sub-printed circuit board 79. For example, thethird adhesive member 75 may include conductive epoxy or solder.

According to an embodiment, the image sensor 743 may be disposed on thesub-printed circuit board 79. For example, the image sensor 743 may beattached to the sub-printed circuit board 79 through the first adhesivefilm 71 (e.g., a die attach film (DAF)).

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a portion of an example packagestructure of a biometric sensor module according to an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 8, diagram <81> illustrates a rear perspective view of a firstcorner portion of a biometric sensor module (e.g., a biometric sensor)840 (e.g., the biometric sensor module 640), diagram <82> illustrates arear view of the first corner portion of the biometric sensor module840, and diagram <83> illustrates a rear view of a second corner portionof the biometric sensor module 840.

Referring to FIG. 8, the biometric sensor module 840 may include aprinted circuit board 841 (e.g., the printed circuit board 641), ahousing 842 (e.g., the housing 642), an adhesive member 846 (e.g., theadhesive member 646), and a magnetic screen layer 848 (e.g., themagnetic screen layer 648). According to an embodiment, an area of thehousing 842 may protrude outside the printed circuit board 841. Forexample, a corner of the printed circuit board 841 may have an inwardlyconcave shape, and a corner of the housing 842 may protrude outside theprinted circuit board 841. According to another embodiment, the entirearea of the housing 842 may not protrude outside the printed circuitboard 841.

Since the boundary of the corner of the printed circuit board 841 islocated inward of the boundary of the corner of the housing 842, asecond adhesive member (e.g., a second adhesive member 92 of FIG. 9),when being applied, may flow down the corner portion of the housing 842and may be effectively applied to an area between the biometric sensormodule 840 and a display.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating an example electronic deviceaccording to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The sectional view illustrated in FIG. 9 corresponds to a sectional viewin the state in which a biometric sensor module 940 is attached to adisplay 920. Referring to FIG. 9, an electronic device 901 (e.g., theelectronic device 301 of FIG. 3) may include a cover glass 910 (e.g.,the cover glass 310 of FIG. 3), the display (or the display panel) 920(e.g., the display 320 of FIG. 3), a pressure sensor 930 (e.g., thepressure sensor 330 of FIG. 3), and the biometric sensor module 940(e.g., the biometric sensor module 340 of FIG. 3).

According to an embodiment, the biometric sensor module 940 may beattached to a rear surface of the display 920 after passing through asensor mounting area (e.g., the sensor mounting area 427 of FIG. 4A)formed in the display 920 and a sensor mounting area (e.g., the sensormounting area 431 of FIG. 4A) formed in the pressure sensor 930. Forexample, a first adhesive member 946 (e.g., the adhesive member 646) ofthe biometric sensor module 940 may be attached to a surface (e.g., arear surface) of a first layer 925-1 (e.g., the first layer 425-1) of alayer 925 (e.g., the layer 425). In the state in which the biometricsensor module 940 is attached to the display 920, a biometric sensor(e.g., an image sensor 943 (e.g., the image sensor 643), an opticallayer 944 (e.g., the optical layer 644), and an optical filter layer 945(e.g., the optical filter layer 645)) may face a panel layer 921 (e.g.,the panel layer 421). According to an embodiment, the optical filterlayer 945 may be spaced apart from the panel layer 921 by a specifieddistance h3 to ensure performance of the biometric sensor module 940.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device 901 may include thesecond adhesive member 92 for attaching the biometric sensor module 940to the display 920. The second adhesive member 92 may be insertedbetween an outer side of a housing 942 and an inner side of the layer925 to secure the biometric sensor module 940 to the display 920. Theadhesive force of the biometric sensor module 940 to the display 920 maybe enhanced by doubly attaching the biometric sensor module 940 to thedisplay 920 through the first adhesive member 946 and the secondadhesive member 92. According to an embodiment, the second adhesivemember 92 may include a UV adhesive, such as a UV ink or a UV curableresin, which is curable by UV light.

In the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 9, the biometricsensor module 940 has been described as being attached to the display920 through the first adhesive member 946. However, the biometric sensormodule 940 may be attached to the display 920 by a pressing methodwithout the first adhesive member 946, or may be attached to the display920 through an additional mechanical fixing method (e.g., a screw, afixing recess, a fixing member, or the like).

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example process ofmanufacturing a biometric sensor, according to an example embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to diagrams <1001> and <1002> of FIG. 10A, a biometric sensormodule 1040 (e.g., the biometric sensor module 640 of FIG. 6) mayinclude a printed circuit board 1041 (e.g., the printed circuit board641 of FIG. 6) and a housing 1042 (e.g., the housing 642 of FIG. 6). Thehousing 1042 may be disposed on an upper surface of the printed circuitboard 1041 and may include an opening 1091. Referring to diagrams <1003>and <1004> of FIG. 10A, a biometric sensor (e.g., an image sensor 1043(e.g., the image sensor 643 of FIG. 6) and an optical layer 1044 (e.g.,the optical layer 644 of FIG. 6)) may be disposed on the upper surfaceof the printed circuit board 1041. For example, the image sensor 1043may be disposed on at least an area in the opening 1091 of the housing1042, and the optical layer 1044 may be disposed on at least an area ofthe image sensor 1043. Referring to diagrams <1005> and <1006> of FIG.10A, the printed circuit board 1041 and the image sensor 1043 may beelectrically connected using a conductive wire 1047 (e.g., theconductive wire 647 of FIG. 6) in the state in which the biometricsensor is disposed on the printed circuit board 1041. The printedcircuit board 1041 and the image sensor 1043 may be electricallyconnected through, for example, a plurality of conductive wires.

Referring to diagrams <1007> and <1008> of FIG. 10B, an optical filterlayer 1045 (e.g., the optical filter layer 645 of FIG. 6) may bedisposed on an upper surface of the optical layer 1044. The opticalfilter layer 1045 may be disposed on at least an area of the opticallayer 1044. The optical filter layer 1045 may be attached to the opticallayer 1044 through, for example, an optically clear adhesive (OCA) film.Referring to diagrams <1009> and <1010> of FIG. 10B, a protective member1049 (e.g., the protective member 749 of FIG. 7A) may be disposed in aspace formed by the housing 1042, the biometric sensor (e.g., the imagesensor 1043, the optical layer 1044, and the optical filter layer 1045),and the printed circuit board 1041. According to an embodiment, theprotective member 1049 may be formed to completely surround theconductive wire 1047 to separate the conductive wire 1047 from theoutside. According to an embodiment, a magnetic screen layer 1048 (e.g.,the magnetic screen layer 648 of FIG. 6) may be attached to a rearsurface of the printed circuit board 1041. Referring to diagrams <1011>and <1012> of FIG. 10B, an adhesive member 1046 may be disposed on atleast an area of the housing 1042. The biometric sensor module 1040 maybe attached to a rear surface of a display (e.g., the display 320 ofFIG. 3) through the adhesive member 1046.

Electronic devices according to various example embodiments disclosedherein may be various forms of devices. The electronic devices mayinclude at least one of, for example, a portable communication device(e.g., a smartphone), a computer device (e.g., a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a tablet personal computer (PC), a laptop PC, a desktopPC, a workstation, or a server), a portable multi-media device (e.g., ane-book reader or an MP3 player), a portable medical device (e.g., aheartbeat measuring device, a blood glucose monitoring device, a bloodpressure measuring device, or a body temperature measuring device), acamera, and a wearable device. The wearable device may include at leastone of an accessory type (e.g., a watch, a ring, bracelets, anklets, anecklace, glasses, a contact lens, or a head-mounted-device (HMD)), afabric or garment-integrated type (e.g., an electronic apparel), abody-attached type (e.g., a skin pad or tattoos), and a bio-implantabletype (e.g., an implantable circuit). In some embodiments, the electronicdevices may include at least one of, for example, a television (TV), adigital versatile disc (DVD) player, an audio device, an audio accessorydevice (e.g., a speaker, headphones, or a headset), a refrigerator, anair conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven, a washingmachine, an air cleaner, a set-top box, a home automation control panel,a security control panel, a game console, an electronic dictionary, anelectronic key, a camcorder, and an electronic picture frame, or thelike, but are not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the electronic devices may include at least oneof a navigation device, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), anevent data recorder (EDR) (e.g., a black box for a car, a ship, or aplane), a vehicle infotainment device (e.g., a head-up display for acar), an industrial or home robot, a drone, an automated teller machine(ATM), a point of sales (POS) device, a measuring instrument (e.g., awater meter, an electricity meter, or a gas meter) and internet ofthings (e.g., a light bulb, a sprinkler device, a fire alarm, athermostat, or a street lamp), or the like, but are not limited thereto.The electronic devices according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited to the above-described devices and maycomplexly provide functions of a plurality of devices, similarly to asmartphone having a function of measuring personal biometric information(e.g., a heart rate or blood glucose). In this disclosure, the term“user” may refer to a person who uses an electronic device or may referto a device (e.g., an artificial intelligence electronic device) thatuses the electronic device.

Various example embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms usedherein are not intended to limit the technology set forth herein tospecific embodiments, and those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives on thevarious embodiments described herein can be variously made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Withregard to description of drawings, similar elements may be marked bysimilar reference numbers. The terms of a singular form may includeplural forms unless otherwise specified. In this disclosure, theexpressions “A or B”, “at least one of A and/or B”, “A, B, or C”, or “atleast one of A, B, and/or C”, and the like may include any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The terms,such as “first”, “second”, and the like may be used to refer to variouselements regardless of the order and/or the priority and to distinguishthe relevant elements from other elements, but do not limit theelements. When an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to asbeing “(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to” or “connectedto” another element (e.g., a second element), the element may bedirectly coupled with/to or connected to the other element or anintervening element (e.g., a third element) may be present.

According to the situation, the expression “adapted to or configured to”used in this disclosure may be used interchangeably with, for example,the expression “suitable for”, “having the capacity to”, “adapted to”,“made to”, “capable of”, or “designed to” in hardware or software. Theexpression “a device configured to” may refer to a situation in whichthe device is “capable of” operating together with another device orother components. For example, a “processor set to (or configured to)perform A, B, and C” may refer, for example, and without limitation, toa dedicated processor (e.g., an embedded processor) for performingcorresponding operations or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU) or an application processor) that performscorresponding operations by executing one or more programs stored in amemory device (e.g., the memory 130).

The term “module” used in this disclosure may include a unit configuredwith hardware, software, or firmware or any combinations thereof, andmay be used interchangeably with, for example, the terms “logic”,“logical block”, “component” or “circuit”. The module may be anintegrated component or may be a minimum unit for performing one or morefunctions or a part thereof. For example, the module may include, forexample, and without limitation, a dedicated processor, a CPU, anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), or the like.

At least a part of devices or methods according to various embodimentsmay be implemented with instructions stored in the form of a program ina computer-readable storage medium (e.g., the internal memory 136 or theexternal memory 138). The instructions, when executed by a processor(e.g., the processor 120), may allow the processor to perform functionscorresponding to the instructions directly or by using other elementsunder the control of the processor. The instructions may include codesgenerated or executed by a compiler or an interpreter.

Elements (e.g., modules or programs) according to various embodimentsmay each be configured with a single entity or a plurality of entities,and some of the above-described corresponding sub-elements may beomitted, or other sub-elements may be further included. Alternatively oradditionally, some elements (e.g., modules or programs) may be combinedtogether to form one entity, and the functions of the elements may beperformed in the same manner as before the combination. Operationsperformed by modules, programs, or other elements according to variousembodiments may be executed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or ina heuristic method. In addition, some of the operations may be executedin different sequences or may be omitted. Alternatively, otheroperations may be added.

While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described withreference to various example embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure as defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile electronic device comprising: a displaypanel comprising a plurality of layers including a front panelcomprising a plurality of pixels and a metal sheet layer including afirst opening defined therein; a housing structure having a secondopening; a biometric sensor disposed below the display panel via thehousing structure so that an upper surface of the biometric sensor facesa rear surface of the front panel through at least a portion of thesecond opening of the housing structure and the first opening in themetal sheet layer, a first flexible printed circuit board electricallycoupled to the biometric sensor, the first flexible printed circuitboard disposed below the biometric sensor and at least partiallyoverlapping the housing structure; and a metallic layer integrallyformed on a rear surface of the first flexible printed circuit board andat least partially overlapping the biometric sensor and at leastpartially overlapping the housing structure; wherein the upper surfaceof the biometric sensor is spaced apart from the rear surface of thefront panel via an unoccupied space formed by at least the portion ofthe second opening of the housing structure in addition to the firstopening of the metal sheet layer; and wherein the mobile electronicdevice is configured so that light emitted by a portion of the pluralityof pixels is to be reflected by a finger over a front surface of themobile electronic device and is to be transmitted through each of thefront panel, the first opening in the metal sheet layer, and at leastthe portion of the second opening of the housing structure before beingreceived by the biometric sensor.
 2. The mobile electronic device ofclaim 1, further comprising a second flexible printed circuit boardelectrically coupled to a layer extending from the display panel, thesecond flexible printed circuit board having a third opening definedtherein that overlaps an area where the biometric sensor is providedwhen the layer extending from the display panel is bent so as to disposethe second flexible printed circuit board at a rear side of the displaypanel.
 3. The mobile electronic device of claim 2, wherein the housingstructure is attached to at least part of an upper surface of the firstflexible printed circuit board by an adhesive, wherein the biometricsensor is disposed at least partially in the second opening of thehousing structure and configured such that a signal related to biometricinformation is to pass through the display panel and reach the uppersurface of the biometric sensor.
 4. The mobile electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the housing structure is attached to at least part ofan upper surface of the first flexible printed circuit board by anadhesive, wherein the biometric sensor is disposed at least partially inthe second opening of the housing structure and configured such that asignal related to biometric information is to pass through the displaypanel and reach the upper surface of the biometric sensor.
 5. The mobileelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing structure is attachedto at least part of a rear surface of the display panel by an adhesiveat a periphery of the second opening, wherein the biometric sensor isdisposed at least partially in the second opening of the housing andconfigured such that a signal related to biometric information is topass through the display panel and reach the upper surface of thebiometric sensor.
 6. A mobile electronic device comprising: a displaypanel comprising each of a front panel comprising a plurality of pixelsand a metal sheet layer having a first opening defined therein; abiometric sensor disposed below the display panel so that an uppersurface of the biometric sensor is spaced apart from the front panel viaan unoccupied space in an area where the first opening in the metalsheet layer is provided; and a first flexible circuit board electricallycoupled to the display panel and disposed at a rear side of the displaypanel, the first flexible circuit board having a shape with a void areacorresponding to at least an area where the biometric sensor isprovided, wherein the mobile electronic device is configured so thatlight emitted by a portion of the plurality of pixels is to be reflectedby a finger over a front surface of the mobile electronic device and isto be transmitted through each of the front panel, the first opening inthe metal sheet layer, and the void area before being received by thebiometric sensor.
 7. The mobile electronic device of claim 6, whereinthe first flexible printed circuit board is electrically coupled to alayer extending from the display panel, and the layer extending from thedisplay panel is bended so as to dispose the first flexible printedcircuit board at a rear side of the display panel.
 8. The mobileelectronic device of claim 7, further comprising a second flexibleprinted circuit board disposed below the biometric sensor andelectrically coupled to the biometric sensor; and a metallic layerintegrally formed on a rear surface of the second flexible printedcircuit board and at least partially overlapping the biometric sensor asviewed from above.
 9. The mobile electronic device of claim 6, furthercomprising a second flexible printed circuit board disposed below thebiometric sensor and electrically coupled to the biometric sensor; and ametallic layer integrally formed on a rear surface of the secondflexible printed circuit board and at least partially overlapping thebiometric sensor as viewed from above.
 10. The mobile electronic deviceof claim 9, wherein the first flexible printed circuit board iselectrically coupled to a layer extending from the display panel, andthe layer extending from the display panel is bent so as to dispose thefirst flexible printed circuit board at a rear side of the displaypanel.
 11. The mobile electronic device of claim 6, further comprising:a rigid printed circuit board disposed below the biometric sensor andelectrically coupled to the biometric sensor; and a metallic layerintegrally formed on a rear surface of the rigid printed circuit boardand at least partially overlapping the biometric sensor as viewed fromabove.
 12. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein the firstflexible printed circuit board is electrically coupled to a layerextending from the display panel, and the layer extending from thedisplay panel is bent so as to dispose the first flexible printedcircuit board at a rear side of the display panel.
 13. The mobileelectronic device of claim 6, further comprising: a housing structurehaving a second opening, wherein the housing structure is attached to atleast part of a rear surface of the display panel by an adhesive at aperiphery of the second opening, wherein the biometric sensor isdisposed at least partially in the second opening of the housing andconfigured such that a signal related to biometric information is topass through the display panel and reach the upper surface of thebiometric sensor.
 14. A mobile electronic device comprising: a displaypanel comprising a plurality of layers including a front panelcomprising a plurality of pixels and a metal inclusive sheet layerincluding a first opening defined therein; a housing comprising a secondopening defined therein, wherein the second opening defined in thehousing extends through the housing; a biometric sensor disposed belowthe display panel via the housing so that an upper surface of thebiometric sensor faces a rear surface of the front panel through atleast a portion of the second opening of the housing and the firstopening in the metal inclusive sheet layer, wherein the upper surface ofthe biometric sensor is spaced apart from the rear surface of the frontpanel via an unoccupied space formed by at least the portion of thesecond opening of the housing in addition to the first opening of themetal inclusive sheet layer; and a first flexible circuit boardelectrically coupled to the display panel and disposed at a rear side ofthe display panel, the first flexible circuit board having a shape witha void area corresponding to at least an area where the biometric sensoris provided, wherein the mobile electronic device is configured so thatlight emitted by a portion of the plurality of pixels is to be reflectedby a finger over a front surface of the mobile electronic device and isto be transmitted through each of the front panel, the first opening inthe metal inclusive sheet layer, the void area, and at least the portionof the second opening of the housing before being received by thebiometric sensor.
 15. The mobile electronic device of claim 14, furthercomprising a second flexible printed circuit board disposed below thebiometric sensor and electrically coupled to the biometric sensor; and ametallic layer integrally formed on a rear surface of the secondflexible printed circuit board.
 16. The mobile electronic device ofclaim 15, wherein the first flexible printed circuit board iselectrically coupled to a layer extending from the display panel, andthe layer extending from the display panel is bent so as to dispose thefirst flexible printed circuit board at the rear side of the displaypanel.
 17. The mobile electronic device of claim 16, wherein the housingis attached to at least part of an upper surface of the first flexibleprinted circuit board by an adhesive, wherein the biometric sensor isdisposed at least partially in the second opening of the housing andconfigured such that a signal related to biometric information is topass through the display panel and reach the upper surface of thebiometric sensor.
 18. The mobile electronic device of claim 14, furthercomprising a rigid printed circuit board disposed below the biometricsensor and electrically coupled to the biometric sensor; and a metalliclayer integrally formed on a rear surface of the rigid printed circuitboard.
 19. The mobile electronic device of claim 18, wherein the firstflexible printed circuit board is electrically coupled to a layerextending from the display panel, and the layer extending from thedisplay panel is bent so as to dispose the first flexible printedcircuit board at the rear side of the display panel.
 20. The mobileelectronic device of claim 18, wherein the housing is attached to atleast part of an upper surface of the first flexible printed circuitboard by an adhesive, wherein the biometric sensor is disposed at leastpartially in the second opening of the housing and configured such thata signal related to biometric information is to pass through the displaypanel and reach the upper surface of the biometric sensor.
 21. Themobile electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first flexible printedcircuit board is electrically coupled to a layer extending from thedisplay panel, and the layer extending from the display panel is bent soas to dispose the first flexible printed circuit board at the rear sideof the display panel.
 22. The mobile electronic device of claim 14,wherein the housing is attached to at least part of a rear surface ofthe display panel by an adhesive at a periphery of the second opening,wherein the biometric sensor is disposed at least partially in thesecond opening of the housing and configured such that a signal relatedto biometric information is to pass through the display panel and reachthe upper surface of the biometric sensor.
 23. The mobile electronicdevice of claim 14, wherein the first flexible printed circuit board(FPCB) is electrically coupled to a layer extending from the displaypanel, wherein the layer extending from the display panel is bent so asto dispose the first FPCB at the rear side of the display panel, whereinthe first FPCB includes a first portion disposed at a first side of themobile electronic device and a second portion disposed at a second sideof the mobile electronic device; and wherein the biometric sensorincludes a fingerprint sensor, wherein the fingerprint sensor ispositioned relative to the first FPCB so that light reflected by afinger is to pass between the first portion and the second portion ofthe first FPCB before being received by the fingerprint sensor.